Was there for the Pitt game and was there tonight.  Pitt crowd was bigger.  Everything this guy reports as well as Arkley is the biggest ever.  Regardless, great crowd that stayed around until well into the third quarter.  Get a win at Marshall next week and the Parents Weekend game could very well be the biggest ever.

No way. This crowd was significantly bigger than Pitt. The hill for this game was the most packed I've ever seen. There were - literally - NO empty seats tonight. Hundreds of fans and students were actually turned away. To my knowledge, no one was turned away for the Pitt game.

Take a look at the shot of the Pitt game (I have one framed) and there's visible empty seats in the corners. Those areas were packed tonight.

We witnessed true history tonight! Still can't get over what an amazing atmosphere and feeling it was.

Record crowd might have been bolstered by all of the high school bands, but as I remember, the UConn game was band night as well. The hill was the most packed and active I've seen since Pitt.

The student side was a zoo, and not all in a good way. I started the game over there with a few others, and people were doubling up with some standing on the concrete stands and others standing on the bleachers in front and behind. I think there were lots of people unwilling to spill into the hill. I witnessed a funny exchange in the row in front of me; some girls were saving seats for friends when another group of girls insisted they sit in the saved seats, saying "We'll stay here until they show up", only to have the friends right behind them to chime in with "Here we are!"

Yeah, it was packed over there. I love the numbers and the energy, and I hope it continues, but it might need to be policed better. My group went to the pressbox side shortly into the third quarter.

UConn was band day, I believe. Also had $5 tickets....the whole thing was made out as one big gimmick to beat the Pitt game attendance.

This was completely the opposite. There was not a big-time opponent or cheap ticket. We honest-to-goodness sold out a football game...from the Tower Club to the Family Pack and everywhere in between. There was actual energy at the stadium - and students that seemed to be genuinely into it. As a long-time fan/alumni, this was hands-down the best home football atmosphere I've seen. It's not even close.

that's good to hear because the energy and excitement was not captured by the ESPN crew. at all.

Can someone post a pic of the crowd last night? Much appreciated.

I was at both games, Pitt and New Mexico State, this had a different feel. Pitt was a crazed mob. This crowd wanted to watch a blowout, which is a great day for Bobcat fans. Against Pitt it was louder, but there was more people for this, and the reason why is the students. The wings were actually being populated by students because the hill and the Ozone was overflowing, some folks in the family pack section actually complained because students were in their seats, I looked to my better half and said "it's Ohio we just sit where we can grab a seat".

My daughter and I entered at 70 minutes on the clock.  We receive 2 tickets compliments of my other daughter's 110 association.  We stood near the entrance to watch the band enter and take pictures as they assemble for the march on to Stand Up and Cheer.  Then we watch the pre-game before before typically making our way over to the section to the south of the 110.  

Early on the student section was filling up and I kept checking across the field to see where we'd sit because where we normally sit was jammed with the high school bandies.  So I considered the highest section of concrete Peden to the NE and in a few minutes the openings I had seen completely filled.  Then I redirected to the farthest north "family" section and at first it had room and then poof, right at about kick-off it was full.  So I decided to remain on the visitor side down low on the 10 yard line and while we weren't packed in, it was crowded.  The student section looked impressive through the glasses, actively cheering, getting into the game--super first game experience for the freshman--and all those high school band students.

I've heard tell that Ohio graduations are unique in that Ohio is one of few schools that still has live music.  I've heard tell that Ohio's homecoming parade is unique and that few towns can match the Athens parade for number of participants, spectators and excitement.  I wonder if Band Day  rates as unique and can be matched for its color?  Seeing 1,200 potential recruits in various color schemes with many of the bands directed by former 110 members is a real sight to see and one that is needed to be seen to believed.  

Hats-off to the New Mexico State players and coaches for not being hard asses and being understanding when their opportunities to easily enter the field and warm-up before the coin toss and after the half time show was somewhat restricted because of all the stragglers on the field.  

If I'm a student and I can't find a seat in the stadium the last time I was there at the game I don't know if I'm coming back. Having to sit on a grass mound a few hours after it rained is not my idea of a comfortable game viewing experience. That mound is not utilized correctly. It is supposed to be a place to spread out and lounge around so the stadium appeals more to families. It was never designed to be supplemental seating to pack fans in like sardines. I can understand having to put Victory Hill in sardine mode when the athletic department was overwhelmed with the turnout for the Pitt game. Normally before that the stadium way under capacity. Ever since Schaus became AD the early season night games have been close to packed every year playing against FCS competition. It is clear that Ohio is ready now for that upper deck and the 4,000+ seats that come with it. Reduce the student section in the lower stands and force the student overflow into the upper deck. If students had seats in the upper deck with great line of sight they would stay into the 4th having so much fun sitting in the sky. The school is losing out by turning people away. When that mound was first put in the school up to that point never had more than 1-2 crowds at 23,000 or above before and it made sense at the time to not go any bigger. Almost all of the growth in attendance is from more students attending and the student side is where it makes more sense to increase. I'm not seeing anything on the deck though in the 2013-18 construction cycle but this is needed right away along with improved concessions and bathrooms. Create a much larger student entrance from South Green Drive with more turnstiles to expedite student entry.

http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/construction-numbers

....or it might just be time to do away with the band day.  I'm sure the fans who wanted to the see the game and got turned away would probably be able to sit where the HS bands were.  The home opener the past couple of years has been a great draw for the students, and I'd guess a good number of them are freshmen.

Thanks for posting that pic, no way that was more packed than Pitt in 2005. I can see grass.

Btw, I guess all that expansion talk in another thread wasn't so dumb after all, eh?

I wasn't in Peden for the Pitt game, but I was there for UConn and on Saturday. Saturday's crowd felt bigger. The students were standing for just about the entire game, and the halftime mass exodus didn't happen. Good things.